In the early part of the 19th century, European powers had lost many of it's colonies in the Americas due to rebellions for independence. As a result, Europe started to try and take back their colonies because there was gold and other precious materials to be ravaged from the land. The United States, being the world police we are, decided that Europe shouldn't interfere with New World states or try to colonize anymore. The Monroe Doctrine stated that "further efforts by European countries to colonize land or interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed, by the United States of America, as acts of aggression requiring US intervention." This would help Latin American colonize gain their independence from many European powers such as the Spanish Empire.
Trail of Tears (1831-1837)
In 1830, Indian Removal Act was passed which made it legal for the President to negotiate territorial contracts with Natives (even if it broke past treaties made.) As a result, many Native lands were taken in exchange for money. Even though many Natives didn't agree with the negotiations made by their leaders (and many white settlers too), government officials forced them to leave to their designated reservation in modern-day Oklahoma. This massive exodus caused many elderly and weak Natives to die due to disease, starvation, water deprivation and fatigue. This chain of tragedy came to be known as the Trail of Tears.
Main routes used to relocate the Native Americans living in the Southern United States
In the whole scene there was an air of ruin and destruction, something which betrayed a final and irrevocable adieu; one couldn't watch without feeling one's heart wrung. The Indians were tranquil, but sombre and taciturn. There was one who could speak English and of whom I asked why the Chactas were leaving their country. "To be free," he answered, could never get any other reason out of him. We ... watch the expulsion ... of one of the most celebrated and ancient American peoples.
”
—- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
United States military raise the American flag in the National Palace in Mexico City
In 1845, The Republic of Texas seceded from due to political differences against Mexico's policies on US imported goods, slavery and property tax. During this time, Gen. Santa Anna became dictator of Mexico and tried to defeat the growing rebellion against his regime. Texas agreed to become a U.S. state, which strategically scaled into the Mexican-American War. Mexico still didn't recognize Texas as independent, so for the United States to take it as territory would mean a declaration of war. President James Polk saw this as an opportunity to gain the desirable lands which are now the American Southwest, and moved American troops into disputed territory that Mexico recognized as Mexican land. These two combined acts of war plunged both countries into a quick, but historically important, military conflict. After months of vicious fighting, the United States easily conquered Mexican lands and defeated their forces. Coming from Veracruz, destroying everything in their path up until Mexico City, the United States forces quickly overthrew the Mexican government until negotiations came back from Polk.
John Brown was an anti-slavery extremist who acted primarily in Kansas
Civil War (1861-1865)
After the Mexican-American War, slavery was brought up as a big issue in American politics. Southern states wanted to keep it, Northern states were already starting to legalize it and new territories were disputed on whether or not they would be slave states. Kansas was of especially vital importance, with many clashes occurring between abolitionists (such as John Brown on the left) and advocates of slavery. Abraham Lincoln and the newly-formed Republican Party were abolitionists while Stephen Douglas and the Democratic Party were pro-slavery. The conflict was less of a slavery issue and more of a sovereignty issue; The rights of States in the U.S. were being debated between how far the federal government could impose itself on them. Other politicians, such as John Bell and John Breckinridge, joined Lincoln and Douglas in the 1860 Presidential elections. When Lincoln defeated the other candidates, the Southern pro-slavery states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. After four years of the bloodiest, costliest war ever to be fought on American soil, the North took back the South. After everything was completed, all black people were free, the South laid in ruins and the United States kept all territory.
Rubbled building in Richmond, Virginia in the aftermath of the Civil War
In the period after the Civil War, the South was destroyed both economically and physically. Railroads were skewed to cut off enemy supplies, entire cities were burned to the ground, and almost 620,000 people were left dead. After the Union victory, Republicans hurried to reconstruct the South in order to bring back the agriculture and products that came out of the countryside. With them, they brought ideas that were controversial such as black rights and new amendments to the Constitution. In retaliation, white groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, the White League and the Red Shirts were formed to drive out the Republicans and terrorize black people along with any supporters of civil rights.
Politics of the United States (1820-1890)
By Luis De La Rosa & Gustavo Feria
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
Trail of Tears (1831-1837)
In 1830, Indian Removal Act was passed which made it legal for the President to negotiate territorial contracts with Natives (even if it broke past treaties made.) As a result, many Native lands were taken in exchange for money. Even though many Natives didn't agree with the negotiations made by their leaders (and many white settlers too), government officials forced them to leave to their designated reservation in modern-day Oklahoma. This massive exodus caused many elderly and weak Natives to die due to disease, starvation, water deprivation and fatigue. This chain of tragedy came to be known as the Trail of Tears.Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
Civil War (1861-1865)
After the Mexican-American War, slavery was brought up as a big issue in American politics. Southern states wanted to keep it, Northern states were already starting to legalize it and new territories were disputed on whether or not they would be slave states. Kansas was of especially vital importance, with many clashes occurring between abolitionists (such as John Brown on the left) and advocates of slavery. Abraham Lincoln and the newly-formed Republican Party were abolitionists while Stephen Douglas and the Democratic Party were pro-slavery. The conflict was less of a slavery issue and more of a sovereignty issue; The rights of States in the U.S. were being debated between how far the federal government could impose itself on them. Other politicians, such as John Bell and John Breckinridge, joined Lincoln and Douglas in the 1860 Presidential elections. When Lincoln defeated the other candidates, the Southern pro-slavery states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. After four years of the bloodiest, costliest war ever to be fought on American soil, the North took back the South. After everything was completed, all black people were free, the South laid in ruins and the United States kept all territory.[Reenactment of 1860 Presidential Debate Pt. I]
[Reenactment of 1860 Presidential Debate Pt. II]
Reconstruction (1863-1877)